Stoke fans feel cheated as Manchester City breach 115 rules

Stoke City supporters have been voicing a sense of betrayal since the news broke on Friday that Manchester City were found guilty of breaching the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of violating. The verdict, still subject to appeal, has left former Stoke manager Tony Pulis describing the situation as a "very sour taste" and questioning when his club might ever receive the FA Cup they contested in 2011.

Memory of a historic final

Pulis recalled that taking his Stoke side to the 2011 FA Cup final was the highlight of his fifty‑year career as a player and manager. The May showdown at Wembley saw Stoke lose 1‑0 to Manchester City, a match remembered for Yaya Toure’s winning goal. Toure, who joined City for around £24m in July 2010, was reportedly earning ten times what any Stoke player earned and cost more than the entire Stoke starting eleven.

The final remains vivid for fans who travelled from across the globe, dressing the end of the ground in red and white and singing “Delilah” before kick‑off. Pulis highlighted the role of the Coates family – Peter, Denise and John – whose decades‑long financial support made that day possible for the club and its community.

Implications of the breach

While Manchester City have not yet been penalised, Pulis expects a points deduction and a massive fine rather than the return of the 2011 trophy or winners’ medals. He added that other clubs affected by City’s dominance between 2009 and 2018 are likely to explore legal options.

At the time of the final, Manchester City had not won a major trophy for thirty‑five years, yet their financial muscle far exceeded what Stoke City could ever aspire to in transfer fees and wages. Despite the loss, Pulis praised his players for a fully committed performance against the odds.

Speaking to ’s Chris Bevan, Pulis stressed that the breach does not erase the memory of that day for Stoke fans, who still dream of celebrating the cup in Stoke‑on‑Trent. He concluded that whatever sanctions follow, the club will never get that day back.